Tie puller



E. C. NEAL June 29, 1943.

TIE FULLER Filed June 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l liw INVENTOR. Ernest Cflea, Q

A ORNEY.

June 29, 1943. E, NEAL TIE FULLER FilQd June 28, 1539 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIII 1N VENTOR. BY Jfrrzeai 0 A ea],

5 ORNEY.

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Patented June 29, 1943 QUGI bll TIE PULLER Ernest C. Neal, Chicago, lll., assignor to James D. Roberts, Portland, Oreg., trustee Application June 28, 1939, Serial No. 281,514

Claims.

This invention relates to tie pullers of the general type disclosed in Patent Nos. 2,069,769 and 2,609,770. each issued February 9, 1937.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved tie puller having a tie engaging member operated on the principle of a double lever construction, whereby the tie engaging member may be operated with a minimum of effort, the said construction including a pair of members, one adapted to have immense pulling power to start the movement of the tie, and the other of probably faster action to remove the tie quickly after it has been broken loose. 7

Another object is the provision of novel means to operate one or more rotatably mounted toothed wheels or drums which are adapted to engage and dig into the upper surface of a tie, the wheels or drums being operated by a cam member on the handle of the device and operating a pivotally mounted lever or arm upon which driving pawls engaging a ratchet cause rotative movement of the wheels or drums in a predetermined direction.

A further object is the provision of a tie puller having a tie removing or pulling element operated by a plurality of leverage devices so as to vary the pulling spread and, with minimum effort, to loosen and pull the tie in the shortest possible time.

Still another object of the invention lies in the particular construction and arrangement of the parts to produce a tie puller which can be readily and economically made, which is efficient and dependable in operation, and which is simple and durable in construction.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of new and novel means to facilitate quick and easy assembly and replacement of nuts. the said means including a pair of replaceebr: separate pulling wheels and a ratchet wheel, all having interlocking engagement and rotatable on supporting shaft or axle.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the followin". specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate certain se e ted embodiments of the invention, and the ricw t erein are as follows:

Fri. 1 is a detail side elevational view of the improved tie puller;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, parts being broken aww fo the sake of clearness;

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view through the main supporting shaft or axle, showing the construction of the toothed drums or wheels and the ratchet wheel; and

Fig. 5 is a detail elevational view partly in section, showing a modified form of driving connection.

The particular form of tie puller herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a frame l0 made up of side members II and upper and lower cross members l2, l2 and l3, l3, respectively. A transverse shaft or axle I4 is suitably journaled in bearings in the side members I l and revolubly supports the centrally positioned ear or ratchet wheel l5 and toothed drums or wheels l6 and 11 mounted between the centrally positioned ratchet wheel l5 and the side members H. The central ratchet wheel i5 is provided with elongated side extensions, bosses or lugs l8 and I9, and a central circular opening 20 is provided throughout the entire structure to receive the circular shaft or axle I4. The outer surfaces of the members l8 and i9 taper outwardly and are square or multi-sided in crosssection. The toothed wheels l6 and l! are provided with openings or bores conforming to the tapered multi-sided extensions l8 and I9 and are supported in position on these extensions by means of lock nuts 2| engaging a threaded portion 22 on each end of the shaft l4. A washer 23 may be inserted between the lock nuts 2| and the respective members l6 and N, Fig. 4. The entire structure, therefore, may assume the form of a single unitary structure locked to the shaft M, the shaft M being revolubly mounted in the bearings in the side members II. If desired, however, the axle or shaft It may be locked or fixed to the side members II and the members l5. l6 and I! rotatable as a unit on the shaft or axle Id.

The two wheels l6 and I! are provided with a plurality of teeth 24 which extend outwardly from the peripheral surfaces of the drums so as to engage and dig into a tie 25. The wheels I 6 and l! are adapted to rotate in the direction shown by the arrow, Figs. 1 and 2, to remove the tie 25 from under rails 26, and these teeth are curved in the direction of rotation so as to have leading tie engaging points 21 which will readily engage and penetrate the upper surface of the tie when the wheels are rotated.

The means for rotating the wheels l6 and I1 comprises the ratchet wheel I5, which is operated by ratchet pawls 28 and 29 p ly mountet, as at 30, to an operating ratchet arm or lever 3|. The ratchet arm or lever 3| is in the form wheels.

of a bifurcated member having the lower ends of each side arm or bar revolubly mounted. Each of the arms of the ratchet member 3| is arranged in the space between the inside of the wheels l6 and I! and the outer surfaces of the central ratchet wheel l5, there being a circular portion 32, Fig. 4, formed on each of the members l8 and I9 to provide pivotal bearings for the arms. The pivot 30 comprises the axis for the pawls 28 and 29 which are arranged between opposite arms of the bifurcated lever 3|. The upper ends 33 of the member 3| extend forwardly to the left, Figs. 1 and 2, and carry a roller 34 which is adapted to be engaged by a cam 35 formed on the operating lever 36. The operating lever 36 has its forward end pivoted, as indicated at 31, between the upwardly extending portions 36, Fig. 3. of the side members The operating lever 36 may include a socket member 39 to receive a handle 40. Springs 4| are attached to a part of the frame and to the ratchet arm or member 3| to urge the member 3| in a predetermined direction (to the right, Figs. 1 and 2) and maintain the roller 34 against the cam 35. Thus, when the handle 40 is operated, being pushed in a downward direction, Figs. 1 and 2, the cam 35, tngaging the roller 34, will move the bifurcated lever 3| to the left, Figs, 1 and 2, causing the pawls 28 and 29 to engage behind the teeth on the ratchet wheel l and rotate the ratchet wheel. Inasmuch as the ratchet wheel I5 is rigidly connected to the toothed wheels l6 and I1, rotational movement will be transmitted to these After the end of the downward stroke of the handle 4|), the handle is then raised, whereupon the springs 4| will cause the member 3| to be pulled in an upward direction. The pawls 28 and 29 will then ride over the teeth on the ratchet wheel l5 to bring the pawls in position for subsequent rotational movement of the ratchet wheel when the handle 4|! is again depressed.

The member 3| is relatively long and therefore acts as a lever, so that when force is applied to the upper end thereof, the leverage is transmitted to the gear wheel. Furthermore, inasmuch as the handle 4|] is of considerable length, a great amount of leverage is obtained through its use. Therefore, the toothed wheels l6 and II are caused to rotate through a compound leverage, the leverage being the lever 33 and the lever operating arm 40. A stroke of considerable length of the handle 40 will cause the toothed wheels I6 and H to rotate only a short distance, but the power or force applied is magnified due to the leverage construction of the device, and therefore a tie can be moved without much difficulty. This leverage arrangement is used primarily to first start movement of a tie, and inasmuch as the movement of the handle is relatively great, as compared with the slight rotation of the wheels l6 and I1, there is a disadvantage, as far as the time element is concerned, in using this arrangement to pull the tie all the way out, even though the operation of the lever 40 Will be relatively easy. However, after a tie is once loosened, it can be pulled out with a minimum amount of force, and as it is desirable to remove the tie'quickly, an additional operating element 42 is provided. This operating element 42 comprises a tubular portion 43, which is adapted to receive a lever arm 44, the element 42 being pivotally mounted at 45 between spaced ears or lugs 46 on the frame. A tailpiece 41 is preferably made integral with the member 43 and carries a dog or ratchet pawl 48 which is adapted to engage the teeth on the ratchet l5 to cause rotation thereof. Movement of the handle 44, therefore, is imparted to the pawl 48 which in turn rotates the ratchet wheel l5 and consequently the toothed wheels I6 and i1. Practically all the movement of the arm 44 is transmitted directly to the ratchet wheel I5, so that a relatively short movement of the handle 44 in an upwardly direction, Figs. 1 and 2, will cause a relatively large amount of rotative movement to the toothed wheels l6 and I1, thereby causing the tie to be moved at a more rapid speed than if the handle 40 were operated. The operating device 42, therefore, operates separately and independently of the operating structure 39, 40. Therefore, to first start a tie, the handle 40 is operated up and down until the tie is thoroughly loose from the bed, after which time the handle 44 is operated to remove the tie at a greater speed.

The device is adapted to be arranged on the outside flange of a rail and to pull the tie outwardly under both the rails. Jaws 49 are adapted to engage the flange, Fig. 1, in the proper position, the rail acting as an abutment against which the device works. In order to facilitate movement of the device from one location to another, spaced rollers 50 are revolubly mounted on the front side of the puller, and these rollers are adapted to engage the ball of the rail so that the device can be readily moved, there being a handle 5| provided to tilt the tie puller into position to permit the rail ball to be received between the flanges on the rollers 50. Also, side handles 52 may be provided to assist in placing and removing the structure.

A cross piece 53 may be fastened across the upper ends 38 of the frame to act as a stop and limit the movement of the handle 40, as when the handle 40 is moved to the left, Figs. 1 and 2, the edge 54 will strike the stop 53.

Instead of employing the cam 35, acting on a roller 34 on the member 3|, a modified form of operating construction may be employed. In Fig. 5, the operating lever 36 is pivoted at to a part of the frame, and a link 6|, pivoted at 62 to the lever 36, is connected at 63 to a curved portion 64 provided on the end of the bifurcated member 3|. Thus when the lever in the socket 39 has operated, the movement of the lever 36 will be transmitted to the ratchet arm 3| because of the link connection 6|. The link 6| is reenforced with upper and lower webs 65 so as to strengthen the same, as considerable force is applied to the link during the operation of the handle. Therefore, when the handle is operated, a double leverage action is transmitted to the wheels l6 and H by means of the handle 40, link 6|, and ratchet arm 3|.

The invention provides a tie puller having a multiplied leverage which is transmitted to two rollers engaging the upper surface of a tie. When the operating lever is operated, the cam thereon forces the ratchet arm 3| to cause the operation of the toothed rollers. The amount of force applied to the operating handle 40 is considerably multiplied, whereby a set tie can be immediately loosened and moved with a minimum amount of effort. However, after the tie has once been loosened, speed is of the essence, and therefore the operating handle 40 can be moved to the socket 42 to cause faster operation of the toothed wheels Hi and ll to facilitate fast removal of the tie.

It sometimes happens that when the teeth penetrate a tie of hard wood, there is a tendency mu LLIVILN lb.

for the teeth to stick at the beginning of the loosening operation and not free themselves readily from the tie. Therefore, a socket 10, Fig. 1, is provided on a part of the frame to receive the handle H to pull the toothed wheel loose from the tie. As soon as the tie has once been loosened, however, the teeth only penetrate to a very shallow depth, and the tie may be readily removed, the teeth no longer remaining imbedded in the tie to any appreciable extent. In those cases where there is a tendency of the teeth to stick into the tie at the beginning of the operation, the handle ll is inserted in the socket "l and pulled upwardly to release the teeth.

The tie puller is provided with means to facilitate its transportation from one position to another with the minimum amount of effort. Moreover, parts which are likely to wear out the quickest can be readily removed and replacements quickly made. While the device is strong and rigid and adequately capable of performing the function for which it is intended, it is still relatively light in weight to permit easy handling thereof. Moreover, means are provided to permit transportation of the tie puller from one location to another by sliding it along rollers on the ball of the rail.

In Patent No. 2,240,814 issued May 6, 1941, there is disclosed a tie puller which embodies certain structural improvements and refinements over the device disclosed in this application. This present application broadly claims the twospeed selective operation while the aforesaid copending application claims specific improvements and refinements over the matter disclosed in this application.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacriflcing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A tie puller comprising a rotatably mounted member, means for rotating said member, and a plurality of independent selectively operating members each separately and operatively connected to said means to rotate said first named member at different speeds selectively during operation of either of the operating members.

2. A tie puller comprising a rotatably mounted element, means for operating said element, a high speed device operatively connected to said means for operating said means, and a low speed device operatively connected to said means for operating said element at a slower rate, said high and low speed devices being operable selectively.

3. A tie puller comprising a rotatably mounted element, tie engaging means operatively connected to said element and operated thereby, a high speed device for operating said element, and a low speed device for operating said element, said speed devices being each separately and operatively connected to said element and capable of independent selective operation.

4. A tie puller comprising a rotary member, ratchet means operatively connected to the rotary member for rotating said rotary member, means for rotating said rotary member at different speeds selectively and comprising operable means for operating the ratchet means at a certain speed, means for operating the operable means, and a second means coacting with said ratchet means for operating said ratchet means at a different speed.

5. A tie puller comprising a frame adapted to engage a rail and be braced thereby, means adapted to engage a tie and pull a tie from beneath the rails, a rotary mounted member supported by the frame to move said last-named means to pull a tie, a pair of selectively operated operating levers operatively mounted on the frame and operatively connected to said rotary mounted member for rotating said rotary mounted member selectively at diiferent speeds.

ERNEST C. NEAL.

g2 7 A3 7 A CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,522,768.

June 29, 1914.5. ERNEST C. NEAL.

of the above numbered pate Page 1, first column, line 5,

read "2,069,770"; and 

